Happy Father's Day a little late!

We had a very enjoyable day on Father's Day. We got quite a few things done around the house in the morning including loading up the cradle that Benaiah had been sleeping in. He is now in the crib and sleeping so good! And while I am on the subject of him, he had a check up yesterday and weighs a whopping 12 lbs. and 8 oz. The doctor was amazed at how great he is doing!

Anyways....after dropping off the cradle at my parent's house for safe keeping, we headed to the Elkhart County Jail to pick up my parents who had been there doing jail service. So, at 2:30 we picked them up and headed for Portage, IN to take my dad on a surprise trip to the Bass Pro Shop to honor him on this special day. We made it a surprise because he has given plenty of surprises in the past, and we thought it was time for him to just sit back, relax, and be surprised. But of course, my dad (who gets it from his mother) cannot really enjoy the time if he doesn't know where he is going, so it made it all the more fun . I think he was thrilled to be there though. They were doing a special Family Summer Camp weekend, so we got to enjoy all the festivities that went along with that. The children did a workshop on animal identification, and painted ceramic tracks, got their pictures taken, and did shooting in the gallery. So much fun for everybody!!!

After our time at Bass Pro Shop, we headed to Texas Corral for supper and enjoyed some delicious food! The children liked the rolls and the whole peanut experience was fun too. By the end of the day, we were all tuckered out and ready for bed when we got home. My dad got some shopping done for this summers fishing time, and we all loved seeing all the animals set up and the excitement of a new place from the children....well, me too. That place is pretty cool! Here are some pictures of our fun family day!

This was the grand display complete with two waterfalls, a river with trout in it, and lots of cool animals. Josiah loved this!

The shooting gallery that was FREE on this day. What great FREE fun! Can't you tell the grandpa was thoroughly enjoying his time with his grandchildren?!

This is one of my favorite part...the many times he signed up for the a giveaway. But this giveaway in particular he filled out, I don't know, how many sheets. And yes, each of the pictures is a different time he stopped to fill one out. :)

And again.....

And again!

This is the workshop the children went to where they learned how to identify animals and then they answered some questions to get a little pin .

This was, by far, my favorite part...you see, my dad recently got a new phone through work. It's amazing (just ask him). It has a compass, a flashlight, takes way too many pictures, and even takes video. Well, he has come to really like this phone and take advantage of all its features such as the video. While the children were doing their workshop, he was walking around videoing the surroundings and just having fun with his phone. It's just funny for my dad who isn't all that techy and totally into this new phone. Jonathon and I just stood back and watched him do all this videoing and laughed and laughed. Too funny! Jonathon said I should have videoed him videoing. Sorry, it would have been an entertaining little clip, I'm sure. :)

So, that was it! Our lovely day with my Dad!

First Fishing Trip of the Summer

Fishing, Family, and Fun!

My dad invited us to go fishing with them and we took them up on it. Our family loves to fish! And this time around, Jonathon and I didn't even get a chance to. It was all the children who got to enjoy the fun and the big catches. Here is Alegra with her big catch. I think her's was the biggest.
She is reeling it in. Grandma was close by to help out if need be, but Alegra was able to get it in all by herself. The children all three caught each of these fish completely on their own. They can cast out, but this day they had some help just to prevent hooks in unsuspected victims. Actually, the only time somebody almost got hooked was me and Benaiah when grandpa was trying to get Alegra's hook unstuck from the lily pads.

Here is Diella's big fish. She didn't think she could get it in, but she did it! She often had to be reminded to watch her bobber, but once somebody said, "Diella, you've got one!", she would hook it and bring it in. Way to go Diella!

And last, but certainly not least, is Josiah's big blue gill. That little Cars fishing pole has been good to him and this catch is the perfect example of that. He does such a great job casting, hooking, and then reeling it in with his little pole. He loves being so big, especially around grandpa and papa.

So, it was a fun fishing evening topped off with Dairy Queen for supper, then back to Grandpa and Grandma's to clean all those whopper fish and have ice cream. The children enjoyed riding bikes and playing kick ball, the men cleaned fish, Grandma played kick ball, and I held a baby and enjoyed the time with family. What a blessing!

He's 4 weeks and oh so cute!

Our little (I mean big) Benaiah is 4 weeks old!

He is, for the most part a happy little guy. Getting into a routine has been so helpful with 3 other children to tend to. He is starting to sleep better at night which is music to my ears when I roll over and see that it has been 6 hours instead of 3 since I was up last. I need my sleep to function as a loving mother....so him sleeping longer at night is really a good thing. :)

This is his serious face. Probably one of his sisters walked in the room, and he is just waiting to see if they will mess with him. They do love him, but I think he gets overwhelmed by their wonderful love. So, when he is with mom, he is very happy to be in a still, calm, safe haven in her arms.

He is starting to smile more, as evident above. He has also talked one time and that was to Josiah. It was very sweet, but I must admit that it causes me a little worry that it was to Josiah and not his dear mother. I'm afraid these two are going to be way too much alike. Who am I trying to kid, he is a boy and boys will be boys. Maybe this time around, our boy won't be quite so rough. That's our prayer!

Isn't he handsome? Alegra was happy to see us home after we went with Grandpa Daniel to a father/daughter banquet at Grandpa Daniel's church. Benaiah was so good, sleeping the whole time. I tried to line his feedings up, so that he would sleep on the way there and then hopefully, during the majority of it, and he slept through the whole thing leaving me to enjoy a nice evening with my dad. And my dad even shared during the banquet about the last months happenings and shared what gift daughters/children are. It was a teary time for sure!

We are growing quite fond of this boy. He brings us great smiles and joy! And he even has cute little snores. Enjoying every minute of his life with us! We thank God for entrusting us with him. Pray with us that we do a pleasing job in training him for the Kingdom.

Benaiah's Dedication

Well, we didn't get very good pictures, so I don't have any to post, but the event itself was such a blessing...who needs pictures really.

We did a double dedication with another couple from church who we are close to and who have a baby just 10 weeks older than Benaiah. We each shared why we wanted to dedicate our babies to the Lord and what it all means to us. For me, the whole thing was much different than for the others because of what I went through before Benaiah was born. Jonathon shared about who Benaiah was in the Bible and what his name means. He was a mighty man who stood by David and helped build his kingdom for good. His name means "whom Jehovah has built". We had the name picked out after we had Josiah. It was one we liked and after becoming pregnant with Benaiah, we decided that if this was a boy, that would be his name. Clear through the pregnancy we had a hunch this was a boy, but couldn't figure out what the meaning of his name had to do with our family. Well, the last 4 weeks it all became clearer. God certainly used those last 4 weeks to bring growth and build Jonathon and I's faith and trust. He was also working in the lives of other families too in building their relationships with one another and learning how to serve when there is a need. Our church family experienced this and was such a huge blessing to us during this time.

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds, they labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows;

for so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Oh, what a great passage. We want the builder to be Yahweh in our family. And how interesting that along with making sure that the Lord is the builder, this passage talks about children being a reward. There is blessing in having these little ones whom God has entrusted to us.

I wanted to read Psalm 118, but I had a crying baby through the whole thing, so I paraphrased it and said what it meant to me. Here is what it is says:

Psalm 118

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Let Israel now say "His mercy endures forever."

Let the house of Aaron now say,

"His mercy endures forever."

I called on the Lord in distress;

The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

The Lord is on my side;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

The Lord is for me among those who help me;

Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

The right hand of the Lord is exalted;

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness;

I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise you, for you have answered me,

and have become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the Lord's doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I pray, O Lord;

O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

You are my God, and I will praise You;

You are my God, I will exalt You.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

This chapter perfectly sums up how I felt the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. God truly was my salvation from death. Not just in a spiritual sense, but literally. His mercy was shown every day while I sat in the hospital room wondering what was going on and what was God trying to teach me through everything. His mercy really does endure forever. And with each passing day, I rejoiced in having another day to breathe, and praised Him for His marvelous works in my life.

The dedication, to me was more than just offering up to train this child according to God's Word. It was dedicating myself to continue in His ways. That is where the blessing comes from. We can dedicate our children, but if we are not committing to dedicating ourselves to walk in all that God commands us to, then we will fall short of the training that our children need to grow up with hearts that want to serve and please the Father. That's what the dedication meant to me.

And we have truly seen blessing! Blessing in our home with our children making good choices. Blessing with Jonathon continueing to make good sales to provide just we need to live. Blessing in our garden with healthy plants and animal tracks (but the animals aren't eating everything like in years past). And blessing in hearing the voice of the Lord and seeing His Scriptures come alive to us. What a marvelous work the Lord is doing in our lives! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!!!

How does the time fly? And how are things going after our little journey in the hopsital?

Well, we came home on Friday and Saturday morning I was back in the ER at Kalamazoo. I just hadn't felt right all night and after calling the doctors and telling them how I was feeling, they wanted me to come in right away to be checked on for fear that I threw a clot. That day is a long story, but we took yet another step of faith that day and chose to trust in Yahweh rather than going through with some tests that had the potential to cause great damage to my body. I think how I was feeling was just due to being overwhelmed with the situation, being home with my children, and a few other things. I was really stressed getting home, and I think it got the best of me, so now I remind myself that I am okay and to calm down. :) Feeling much better and gaining strength from Him to keep moving forward til all this is said and done.

Benaiah had many visitors in the hospital. And of course coming home, he was smothered in love. Josiah hasn't wanted to hold him yet, but does ask if he can "pet" him. We explained to him that he is not a pet but a person. He still thinks he should pet because his hair is so soft. :)

Here is Diella holding Benaiah. Big smiles from them both.

And the biggest sister, Alegra, holding Benaiah.

She absolutely loves to hold him and has even put him

to sleep for me and layed him down without me even knowing it.

What a great helper!

Grandpa Daniel holding Benaiah right after he was born.

I think he is happy to have Benaiah have his name.

Grandma Deborah right after he was born.

Richard and Lee Mishler came up to see and hold Benaiah.

We sure appreciated our church family coming and visiting as

often as they did before and after Benaiah was born.

Melanie Pearson getting her baby fix. Aren't you ready

for another, Mel?

Grandma Linda Bovee holding him with all smiles, knowing how much

Grandpa Byron would have loved him.

Aunt Mandy getting acquainted with him. Will he love her as much as Josiah loves her?

Great Grandpa and Grandma Murphy coming for their first peek at him. Blessed to have them around so the children can spend time with them.

And our good friends Phil and Casie Brothers holding Benaiah and their baby, Amalyah. Amalyah is 11 weeks old. What a big difference in the babies just with that little bit of time. What a blessing!

We have had so much help since being home. Our church family has been just awesome as they have felt the prompting to help in certain areas and have been obedient to that call. We've had groceries brought, meals brought, dishes done, floors swept, and just good sitting and visiting time. What a blessing for sure!

I believe we are all adjusting quite well. I am feeling like a normal person again. I have no idea what the clot is doing in my leg, but I trust that God has it all in control. The house has been a mess with bringing so much home (and with never really having gotten everything ready before we ended up in the hospital), so I am slowly working at that. The children's room is piled high, so it will be wonderful when that gets all put together and rearranged to fit everything. Will take some time though. I forgot how much time it takes to tend to a baby.

Come back after the weekend. Benaiah is getting dedicated to the Lord on Saturday. We will surely have pictures and a posting on what we shared.

A babe is born- Benaiah Daniel Bovee

May 19, 2009

11:11am

9lbs. and 21 inches long

It was a long and hard labor to have this baby. But look at him, I think he was well worth it! And praise God that there were no complications, everything went naturally just as I had prayed for, and we have a very healthy boy.

The clot- tomorrow morning at 7 I will be getting the filter removed. At this point the doctor thinks that the clot is stable enough and won't be an issue of giving me more problems. They will send me home with medication to take that will work at the clot and prevent it from growing. We still don't know when we will go home, but things look better. We have just been so amazed at how we have seen God's hand in this whole situation. Some would probably say that this certainly hasn't been a blessing to our family, but I would disagree. Yes, it's been a situation that nobody would want to go through, but seeing God work has been such a blessing in our lives. And so many other families are also seeing Him work and it's been a great testimony! If I have to suffer for His glory and testimony to others of His wondrous and marvelous works, then so be it. He has been faithful to us in showing us that He has been with us every step of the way and I praise Him for that!!!!

Well, I have a baby that wants to eat. Sounds like that's going to be my story here for the next year. What a blessing!!!

Happy Anniversary to us! 12 years of learning and growing

May 17th - Happy Anniversary!

It's been 12 years of an amazing journey!

(Sorry I don't have any wedding pictures on this computer to contribute.)

This picture shows some silliness, but all 12 years haven't been full of silliness and happiness. There has been tons of learning, growing, sacrificing, and striving to be the husband/wife that God would want us to be with fail and with accomplishment.

Many couples give up so quickly after things just don't go in the fairy style way that they had in their minds on their wedding day. We were there once. Then we entered the "hating marriage" time and things weren't ending in the happily ever after way we had planned. But with a determination to make it work and give up our selfish attitudes and become who God wanted us to be, we stuck it out, and couldn't be happier now.
Now look where we are at....in the hospital waiting for our 4th child with me having a serious blood clot in my body and relying on the One who got us this far to get us out of this situation safely. Though I wouldn't want to go through the garbage again, I certainly wouldn't trade it for anything either. That time in our lives made us who we are today and taught us so much about serving one another and loving in a way that definitely isn't portrayed on TV or movies. It's a way that takes a great deal of work and sacrifice, and is much more rewarding in the end.

If you are struggling in your marriage, hang in there and look at your own heart. It always starts in yourself, and if you are doing what you should, then everything else will fall into place. It may not be easy, but totally worth it!

I have the best husband ever (I haven't always been able to say that)! I lay here in the hospital, and when I am feeling discouraged about my situation, I can express it and Jonathon is always so quick to encourage me with a smile like he knows exactly how it will all turn out and that it will all be just fine. I need his support right now, and he gives that to me above and beyond what I could ask for. It's not him....he couldn't be that way without the strength and peace from God. I am blessed to have a man who trusts and obeys and lets God guide our family in all that we do.

MRI results from today

Today I had another MRI done to see how the clot is doing. We found out this evening that it has not changed in size at all. So, I am back on bed rest except for going to the bathroom. I feel discouraged at the fact that I have to go through labor with it being so large still. And I wonder how if I will have to stay even longer after baby comes with it still being so big. I just don't understand, but do understand that God has a plan for all this. I just don't know what it is. Please continue to pray for me (as I know you all are). I'm feeling a little down about it. Really wanting this baby to come so that clot can get taken care of. I would greatly appreciate more prayers!!!!!

Guest blogger on Money Saving Mom

I was very honored to have been chosen as one of Money Saving Mom's guest bloggers since she has had her newest baby. It does make me anxious for my own little one to arrive and thankfully I had my article all completed for her before my hospital incident. If you would like to check it out, feel free to head on over to her blog here. You will learn about some free and cheap ways to enjoy the summer with your family.

Hope you are all having a great day. Its rainy here in Kalamazoo and I hear it's rainy back home too. All the flowers and veggies that have been planted will enjoy the little drink as long as the deer haven't helped themselves to eating them. Grrr! I am very excited to get home to see what all has been planted and how things look.

Have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day from the hospital!

We spent today with the children. Was so nice since I haven't had much of any time with them since my hospital stay has begun. We took a little walk to the hospital's solarium where the atmosphere is nicer and there is a fun little magnet play table for children that they just love. They all loved taking pictures and getting their picture taken.

Then we went back to my room to play games and rest my body. We played peanut butter and jelly and skip-bo. Nobody won at peanut butter and jelly and Alegra and I were the only two left playing skip bo as the others got bored with it. She ended up winning and then it was time for supper.

Josiah using his toes in a great way. This is how he held his cards for most of the game. Very funny!

We had supper together and then Jonathon's mom, sister, and brother came and picked up the children to take to grandma's house for a few days. We are praying that this week will be an exciting week with a new baby arriving. The due date is next Sunday, so I'm hoping it will happen soon to get things moving and rolling with getting this clot taken care of. First baby, then the clot.

Hope you all had a great day with your moms or with your children. We sure did and created a unique memory this Mother's Day with being in the hospital.